Psoralea

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Psoralea
Psoralea lanceolata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Subfamily: Faboideae Tribe: Psoraleeae Genus: Psoralea
Species
Psoralea aculeata Psoralea adscendens Psoralea affinis Psoralea alata Psoralea arborea Psoralea archeri Psoralea argophylla Psoralea aromatica Psoralea asarina Psoralea australasica Psoralea axillaris Psoralea badocana Psoralea balsamica Psoralea californica Psoralea canescens Psoralea castorea Psoralea cinerea Psoralea clementii Psoralea connixa Psoralea cuneata Psoralea cuspidata (Pediomelum cuspidatum) Psoralea cyphocalyx Psoralea esculenta Psoralea hypogaea (Pediomelum hypogaeum) Psoralea pinnata
Ref: ILDIS Version 6.05

Psoralea is a genus in the legume family (Fabaceae). Although most species are poisonous, the starchy roots of P. esculenta (breadroot, tipsin, or prairie turnip) and P. hypogaea are edible.

Psoralea corylifolia is an important plant in the Indian Ayurveda system of medicine, and also Chinese medicine. The seeds of this plant contain a variety of coumarins including psoralen. The seeds have a variety of medicinal uses, but the specific role (if any) of psoralen in these uses is unknown. Psoralen itself has a number of commercial uses.